High prevalence of scabies in Auckland pre-schools

AIM: Scabies is a difficult disease to diagnose and its prevalence not well established. A strong association between scabies and more serious illnesses in children, for instance acute rheumatic fever, suggests greater understanding of scabies prevalence is warranted. Here, we present initial findings of a study of childcare centres, to estimate the prevalence of scabies in the Auckland community. METHODS: Children in three childcare centres from socio-economically challenged areas were examined for scabies. Diagnoses were made according to the International Alliance for the Control of Scabies (IACS) criteria, whose clinical or suspected definition consists of examination findings of papules: either typical or atypical distribution, along with history features of itch and contact with likely other cases. Aquantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) test was also used. RESULTS: A total of 67 children were examined, with over half (n=38 or 56.7%) showing signs of typical (14; 20.9%) or atypical (24; 35.8%) scabies lesions. History information was available for 50 children. Of these, nine (18%) met the criteria for clinical or suspected scabies. Of 27 qPCR tests performed nine (33%) tested positive. CONCLUSION: The prevalence with scabies is high in early childcare centres in socio-economically challenged areas of Auckland.

Automated summary

This study investigates the prevalence of scabies in early childcare centers in Auckland. The results show a relatively high prevalence of scabies in the surveyed centers.